Potsdam, NY – A run of four unanswered goals to end the first half gave the Clarkson University Men's Lacrosse team plenty of momentum heading into the locker room, and the Golden Knights did not relinquish their advantage the rest of the way in claiming a 16-8 Liberty League victory over Bard College Saturday afternoon at Hantz Turf Field.

The Golden Knights improved to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in the Liberty League, halting a six-game losing skid. Bard dropped to 0-4 in conference games and 4-8 overall.

The Golden Knights came out a little sluggish in the opening minutes as Bard built a 2-0 advantage after a few minutes in the first quarter, but the team found its footing on offense at the 6:23 mark when sophomore Sam Groves scored the first of his four goals on the day. Clarkson would tie the game up a few moments later, but the two teams would trade goals through the next 10 minutes and it appeared as if the game would be tight at the half.

That would not be the case, however, as Clarkson's fourth goal of the game, scored by Kyle Brown with 5:31 remaining, would start a streak of four straight to give the Knights more breathing room at the break. Each was important in the run, but the keys were two quick goals in succession in the final minute. Marcus Lavarnway scored with 45 seconds left, and after Brett Mazza won the ensuing faceoff, he quickly found Sam Groves, who converted with 38 seconds left.

Bard ended the streak early in the second half, but Clarkson rattled off six straight goals, all from different players, in an 11-minute stretch of the third quarter. The Raptors scored in the waning seconds of the period, but that streak of dominance by the Knights all but put the game away. On two occasions the Raptors would pull back within six, but two insurance goals in the final minutes left the Knights with a comfortable margin.

Groves produced a career-high five points with four goals and an assist while J.R. Campbell tied his career-high with four points on three goals and an assist. Ryan DaRin added a goal and two helpers, and Brendan Brady tallied three points on two goals and an assist. Peter Herrick also scored twice, while Ryan St. Croix scored one goal, which happened to be the 100th point of his career. Defensively, Keith Mierzwa, Marc Simmons, and Ben Paprocki each produced three groundballs and all three caused one turnovers. Clarkson put three different goalies in the crease, and the trio of Nick Strandholm, Garth Buck and Peter Hargrave combined to make eight saves. Brett Mazza also played well, winning 17 of his 24 faceoff attempts.

For Bard, John Palermo scored three times, picked up three groundballs and caused two turnovers. John Kelly had four points with a goal and three assists and both Emmet O'Connell and Blake Burnley each scored twice. Troy Ludtka was busy in the Bard crease, making 15 saves.

Clarkson held significant advantages in shots (53-22), shots on goal (31-16), groundballs (36-17) and faceoffs won (18-9).